‘Tis the Sazón

When a craving for Cuban calls, but you find yourself in North Beach — a mecca for Latin American restaurants of the Argentine, Columbian, Brazilian, and Uruguayan variety — there is one delicious recourse. Head straight to Sazón.

This Cuban corner joint serves up a downright delicious menu (better dare I say than that bastion of all things Cubano, Versailles). Favorites include the crispy ham croquettes and the pan con lechón sandwhich, a concoction of shredded pork, sautéed onions, and tangy garlic marinade, served with fries. Another crowd pleaser is the namesake Sazón sandwich, ropa vieja (shredded beef) on Cuban bread. Mmm.

If you’re feeling like something a little dressier than a sammie, entreés are also plentiful, like churrasco (skirt steak) with shrimp, and chicken fajitas. And let’s talk about the mojitos for a moment, shall we? They will knock you on the floor — in a good way. Just ask my mom.

If you’re lounging on North Beach and don’t want to roll into Sazón in your sandy bathing suit — not to worry. Around the corner from the main entrance lies a tiny walk-up window that serves up many of the restaurant’s quick bites, like sandwiches, coffee drinks, and ice cream. The window opens early, so you can grab a quick caffeine fix on your morning stroll through the ‘hood.

About The Author

Valerie Conners is a travel writer, editor and digital producer who specializes in Florida travel, world's best beaches, outdoor travel, and romantic getaways. Her work has been featured by Conde Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, Travel Channel, and Frommer's travel guides. She hopes to snarf every frita and slurp up every $1 oyster happy hour in Miami.